Clayton Kershaw gets dental work

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw had to get some dental work done late Friday night after being hit in the mouth by a soft line drive earlier in the day and was excused from Saturday morning's workout.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said he doesn't anticipate the dental work affecting the reigning National League MVP's next start.

Mattingly said Kershaw lost one tooth when he was hit by Andy Parrino's broken-bat liner in Friday's game against the Oakland Athletics and had to have another one pulled out by the dentist.

Kershaw was at the dentist's office until around 10:30 p.m. and will require further dental work during the season, Mattingly said.

Kershaw collapsed on the mound after Parrino's liner struck him. The left-hander sat there for a minute or two as Mattingly and Dodgers trainers rushed out of the dugout, but after working his jaw a few times and consulting with trainer Stan Conte, Kershaw threw a warm-up pitch and remained in the game.

"It felt like getting hit with a pitch, nothing serious," Kershaw said after Friday's game. "I don't think I panicked too much. It's just sore."

The lost tooth, which came from the back of his mouth, was recovered on the field. Kershaw said he has seen the protective caps pitchers have been authorized to wear, but has never been tempted to try one.

Kershaw is coming off his fourth straight major league ERA title, his third Cy Young Award in four seasons and the first MVP season by a National League pitcher since Bob Gibson in 1968. Mattingly announced two weeks ago that Kershaw would make his fifth straight Opening Day start April 6 against the San Diego Padres.